You are here

21st Week in Ordinary Time

We have a mission today. We have a mission every day….
to let our light shine…in order that the world may see our good works
and give glory to the Father in heaven.

The five wise virgins in today’s gospel are bringers of light.
Wise disciples are those who carry the light of Christ with them where ever they go.

If faith was a tree, its fruit, its sweetness,
the very thing that draws those who are hungry to its branches to taste and eat, is good works.
The fruit of faith is good works.
The strength we need to stand before the Son of Man on the day of judgment
comes to us through good works.
What we all need when Jesus returns, when his Kingdom comes, is good works.
The world will know we are Christian by our…good works.
God will know us as his children and will welcome us into the eternal wedding feast
because of our good works….they go with us into eternity.

If we want an eternal future with God,
if we want to emulate the wise virgins, if we want to be among those who enter the Kingdom,
then we must bring the light of Jesus Christ to this world through our good works.
Imbue our part of the world with the Christian spirit through the witness of good works.

What are the good works of which I am speaking:
giving food to the hungry; drink to the thirsty; clothing to the naked;
welcome the stranger; care for the sick; visit the imprisoned; and bury the dead.
Be concerned about and show attentive care
to the sick, the poor, the underprivileged, the imprisoned, the
bed-ridden, the discouraged, the stranger, the lonely,
and persons of other color, nationalities or background than our own.
Good works include…. the adoption of abandoned infants, hospitality to strangers,
assistance in the operation of schools,
helpful advice and material assistance for adolescents,
help to engaged couples in preparing themselves better for marriage, catechetical work,
support of married couples and families involved in material and moral crises,
help for the aged not only by providing them with the necessities of life
but also by obtaining for them a fair share of the benefits of an expanding economy.

Good works include…the alleviation of suffering. Promoting the growth of the Christian community.
Awakening in others the wonder and desire, the passion for divine beauty and truth.
Doing volunteer work in hospitals. Serving the needs of the aged and the lonely.
Instructing the young in the faith. Participating as a Christian in community affairs.
Meeting our obligations to our families, our friends, our neighbors, our community, and our parish.

Without good works inspired by the goodness and love of God in our heart,
if we do not actively and eagerly imitate Jesus Christ by embracing his mission as our own,
spiritually we will fall asleep and we will not be ready, we will not have what we need,
to enter his Kingdom.

There is no alternative to good works. If we do not have good works
the only other possibility is to have immorality and impurity.
And for the Christian to have immorality and impurity, is to be counted among the foolish.

Today’s prayer: “O Lord, bless us with wisdom. Protect us from spiritual foolishness. As we await the consummation of Your Kingdom, fill our hearts with a watchful and zealous faith. Never let our love for You and for the good things that await us in heaven grow cold. Amen!”